2 killed in shootings

July 27, 2008

SOUTH SIDE — Two men were fatally shot in separate incidents overnight on Chicago's South Side.

Omar Meza, 20, died after being shot in the abdomen in the 4600 block of South Marshfield Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood late Friday, police said. Meza was standing in the street when a group of men drove by and opened fire, striking him, police said. Meza and the attackers are affiliated with street gangs, police said. Meza was pronounced dead in Stroger Hospital. Michael Thomas, 26, was fatally shot in the street about 2:20 a.m. Saturday in the 7700 block of South Union Avenue in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood. Several shots were fired at Thomas from a car, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the assailants fled in their vehicle, police said.